Decorative illuminating means.



@Kwkg I 4 A. c. ABRAM SON. DECORATIVE ILLUMINATING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, l9l5- 1,250, 120. Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

zg I? 7% are earns @wmy ALFRED o. ABRAMSON, 02E noonronn, ILLINOIS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED C. ABRAMSON, a citizen of the United States, residingat Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Decorative Illuminating Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to lighting means such as are used for interior illumination, and has more particular reference to portable lamps adapted for use on library and parlor tables, not only as illuminating means but to present an ornamental and artistic appearance.

In the construction and design of portable lamps there are two predominating desidcrata, namely: to provide a practicaland eflicient illuminating means for general use and to read by, and to provide a structure capable of adaptation to various pleasing designs so that a lamp may be used on library or parlor tables and serve" as an article of ornamentation. Heretofore, it has been very difficult to provide an ornamental portable table lamp that will give a proper and eflicient distribution of light for general and reading purposes, this due to the fact that the shade structure, designed to .present an ornamental and artistic appearance, does not permit of or, effect a thoroughly efiicient distribution of light in the proper directions. Therefore one of the primary objects'of my invention has been to provide a portable lamp of the above described character such that the light is reflected downwardly and outwardly in a very efiicient manner and such that I the structure promotes and enhances the ornamental appearance 'of the lamp.

Another object of my invention is to improve and simplify the structure'of decorative lighting means adapted for interior illumination, whereby to facilitate the manufacture thereof in different designs so that the lighting means may be produced'at a low cost.

Still another object of my invention is to provide in" a lighting means a decorative shade of novel construction, wherein a translucent reflector and a fabric envelop covering the outerside of the reflector cooperate to provide specular reflection and a light- .softening shade illuminated throughout, so as to present in subdued tones the color Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 18,1917, Application filed March 13, 1915. Serial No. 14,243.

scheme of the shade or the design that may be worked'upon the envelop thereof.

A further object isto provide in a portable lamp a vshade support translucent throughout and a fabric covering overlying the support, whereby the covering will be very effectively illuminated so as to enhance the ornamental qualities of the lamp, and furthermore to removably mount the fabric coveringon the shade support, whereby the covering may be removed at any time to be cleaned'or to be replaced by one of another color or design. This latter feature is especially desirable to salesmen, since a buyer often wishes a lamp that will harmonize with the'colorscheme or furnishings of a particular room, and to effect a saleunder these particular conditions and to promote generally the salability of portable lamps, a dealer or salesman handling my improved portable lamp, may keep on hand individual fabric shades, of various colors and designs, all adapted to fit over the translucent shade support. Thus the desires of a buyer may be more readily satisfied than is possible when the lamps are such that-have shades constructed fixedly and integrally with the pedestal or in such manner that they are not interchangeable.

' A still further object of my" invention is. to arrange and mount a cluster of electric light sockets in a novel manner whereby to obtain effective distribution of light in decorative lighting means.

The invention and its attendant advan-' tages will be readily understood when considered in connection with the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a'preferred and modified embodiment of the invention, and in which+ l Figure 1 is an elevation of a lamp embodying my invention; 7 r Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the lamp; 1 I v a v i Fig. 3 is adetail plan 'view illustrating the cluster of electric light sockets furnishing the illuminating-means; I

Fig. 4 is an-elevation of a portable lamp,

the shade and support thereof in section,

illustrating amodified form of my invention' I r Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in perspective and partially in section, of the shade-supporting structure shown, in Fig, 4;; 5

portable Fig. 6 is a detail view in perspective of a junctiolrbox employed in the preferred structure.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that a pedestal or support designated by reference character 7, of suitable design and formed with a central bore, supports at its upper end a cluster of electric light sockets and a shade arranged thereabove. The shade and the electric light sockets are mounted on a junction-box or cluster body designated generally by reference character 8, in a manner more particularly described hereinafter. The junctionbox, which is cast in a general open-top cup or bowl shape formation, is provided with a depending tubular portion 9 fitting over the upper end of the pedestal and securely attached thereto. Upon the top rim of the junction-box is mounted a circular'blcck or cluster body cover 11 having a central aperture 12 therethrough and an inclined peripheral' face 13 giving the block a frusto-conical shape. The junction-box is also provided with a bridge-piece 14: spanning the upper portion of the junction-box and having a threaded aperture 15 in vertical alinement with the block aperture 12, whereby fastening means (described hereinafter) inserted through said block aperture from above may be anchored to the bridge-piece to securely connect the block to the junction-box. The block receives and supports a reflector and shade support, which will now be described.

The reflector, designated generally by reference character 1.6, is preferably shaped on its inner side to form a parabolic reflecting surface and on its outer side to form suitably arranged prismatic faces indicated at 16 adapted to promote specular reflection, whereby the reflector will reflect and distribute. light downwardly and outwardly in an effective and efficient manner. The reflector is also provided with a central aperture 17, the wall of which conforms to and seats upon the peripheral face 13 of the block 12, whereby the reflector thus seated upon the block 11 may be supported in operative position, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The top rim of the reflector projects slightly above the block 11 and a cap-piece 18 resting on the saidtop rim of the reflector is provided with fastening means in the form of a centrally disposed and downwardly extending threaded member 19 adapted to ex- 'tend through the block aperture 12 and screw. into the threaded aperture in the bridge-piece 14. Thus throughthe' agency of the cap-piece or fastening cap, the reflectoris fixedly connected to the block .11, which in turn is fixedly secured to the junction-boX. The cap, it will be observed, also gives a finished appearance to the top of the lamp.

The illuminating means core-prise cluster of electric bulbs carriedby sockets 21, each fixedly connected to the junction-box by an elbow joint 22 screw-threaded thereinto in such manner that each socket and bulb is tangentially disposed and downwardly inclined with respect to the j unction-box. The foregoing provides a cluster of relatively large bulbs of a comparatively high candle power which may be employed to good advantage with a reflector of the type herein described. By this means isobtained an object very desirable in parlor tablelamps, namely: a strong and. evenly distributed light within a zone that extends entirely about an ordinary library table, furnishing the best of light for reading purposes. The electricwires from the sockets may be joined within the junction-box to .the supply wire, which passes through the pedestal to the base thereof, the wiring being done previously to mounting the block 11 and reflector on the pedestal.

The reflector 16 is translucent throughout, being formed preferably of glass to permit penetration of light, and serves not only as means for reflecting and distributing light, in the manner above described, but also as a shade support itself determinative of the shape of the shade and causing soft illumination thereof. By providing an ornamental shade envelop, the lamp is converted into an article of ornamentation appropriate for use on library and parlor tables and which may be harmonious with the interior furnishings of a room. The fabric envelop or covering designated in general by reference character 28 may be of suitable diaphanous material provided, if desirable, with interwoven designs or with tufted borders, or fringe or other hangings, the shade illustrated in the drawings having scalloped marginal portions 23 depending beneath the outer rim of the reflector and support and having fringe depending therefrom, thus furnishing an artistic shade very pleasing to the eye. The shade is also provided at its inner portion with a raised band 24 covering the joint between the cap-piece and the refl'e'ctor.

It will be apparent that by reason of the translu cency of the reflector body, the fabric envelop will be illuminated throughout, whereby the light rays passing through said reflector body will be subdued by the envelop, making the shade illumination very mild, and will set forth the color scheme and ornamental design of the envelop in softened tones, producing a faintly illuminated decorative effect as compared to the glary shade illumination of many lamps now used for furnishing light appropriate to read by. The fabric envelop, in turn, providing a back to the reflector, assists in preventing escape of the rays through'the shade, thus promoting the eficiency of the light dis-- tributing qualities of the reflector. It will be noted that the shade design is not marred by ribs or other opaque supporting body structure, such as is common in portable lamps now in use. Furthermore. the shade is removable at will and may be replaced at any time by a shade of another design or color when it is desirable to suit a lamp to the color scheme or harmony of furnishings in a particular room.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a modified pedestal. structure adapted for smaller reflectors and shades wherein it is desirable to employ only a single electric light socket. It will be noted that in place of the junctionbox 11 serving to support electric light sockets and the reflector and shade, the top of the pedestal 7 is formed with an opentop socket 24: in which a single electric light socket is disposed. A support comprising upper and lower plates 25 and 26, respectively, spaced apart in fixed relation by vertical bars 27, is fixedly secured by screws passing through the lower plates 26 to the top of the pedestal 7, and receives upon its upper plate 25 a reflector-supporting block 11, the upper plate having a central screwthreaded aperture 28, into which is screwed a cap-connected threaded member 19. By this means a portable lamp of less lighting capacity than that first described is provided without deviating from the combination and arrangement of parts by which the objects of my invention are effected. It will be observed that in both structures, means are provided at the top of a pedestal cooperating with the wall of the reflector aperture and with the top of the reflector for supporting and holding the same in operative position. In both instances the reflector fastening means and shade are similar structurally, except in the structure shown in Fig. 4:, wherein means is provided for holding the fabric envelop taut over the reflector body and from being accidentally displaced thereon. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the outer peripheral edge of the fabric envelop below the rim of the reflector is equipped with a cord or suitable draw-- string or like fastening means 29 adapted to draw the envelop taut over the reflector body and to hold the envelop from being dislodged. A preferred means for holding the envelop in position on the reflector is to provide said fastening means 29 in the form of a rubber band suitably secured to the envelop whereby the same may be removed at any time and the tension of the band will draw the envelop taut and properly hold it on the reflector body. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the lighting means with the fabric envelop secured in position on'the reflector body as above described might be inverted and serve as a semi-indirect lighting fixture, the supporting member or post 7 being suitably shaped and secured to a ceil- It will thus be obvious that various types of illuminating means might be employed with my improvements and that the details of structure and relative arrangement as herein shown might be variously modified without involving any substantial change in structure or its principles of operation. It should, therefore, be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but reserve the rightto make such variations therein as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim 1. In a lighting means, the combination of a support, a junction-box having an open top bowl shaped body provided on its underside with a tubular portion fitting over the end of the support and with a bridge-piece spanning the open top of the body allowing access to the interior thereof, a cluster of electric light sockets mounted on the body of the junction-box so that wiring from the socket may be joined within the junctionbox, and shade-supporting means mounted on the junctionbox and being securely but detachably connected to. the said bridgepiece thereof.

2. In a lighting means, the combination of a support, a junction-box having an open side and a bridge piece in fixed relation thereto spanning said open side so that the interior of the box is accessible therethrough, means for securing the junction-box to the support, a cluster of electric light sockets the wires of which enter said junction-box, shade-supporting means mounted on the junction-box so as to close the open side thereof, and a connection between said bridge piece and shade-supporting means for rigidly securing the latter to the junction-box and allowing the shade-supporting means to be removed therefrom.

ALFRED C. ABRAMSON.

Witnesses: JOHN F. MCCANNA, CARL W. PIERsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

